[inquest]

I guess I'll have to read up more on this, but it just seems so unjust to me. If I'm doing everything within the borders of my own state, I'd think I'd have the right to not be blindsided by the laws of another state, the drafting of which I had absolutely no say in. Either that, or there should be some controlling federal law. At least I'd have a say in that.

[Modernman]

If I'm doing everything within the borders of my own state, I'd think I'd have the right to not be blindsided by the laws of another state,

In such a case, where all the events in question occurred in your home state and the guy suing you was from another state, you'd get the benefit of your home state's substantive law.

Now, in the case of the rock thrown into Virginia from Maryland, your actions did harm in a different state, so you're not really doing eveything in the borders of your own state- the damage arose in Virginia.